NASA Expendable Launch Vehicle Status Report 9 February 2007

Mission: THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions During Substorms)
Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Launch Vehicle: Delta II
Launch Date: Feb. 15, 2007
Launch Time: 6:08 – 6:27 p.m. EST

On Feb. 3, THEMIS was transported from Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA Kennedy Space Center to Pad 17-B. The final major test, the Flight Program Verification, was successfully conducted on Feb. 6. This was an integrated test of the Delta II launch vehicle and THEMIS spacecraft working together. The test simulated all events as they will occur on launch day, including a combined minus count and plus count, but without propellants aboard the launch vehicle. Technicians installed the Delta II payload fairing around THEMIS on Thursday.

Loading of the Delta II second stage with hypergolic propellants is scheduled for Feb. 13 and a countdown dress rehearsal is also planned that day. Final testing of the THEMIS spacecraft is set for Feb. 14. Retraction of the mobile service tower on launch day is scheduled for 9 a.m EST. Loading of RP-1 fuel, a highly refined kerosene, aboard the Delta first stage will start at 3:30 p.m. Loading of the cryogenic liquid oxygen aboard the first stage will follow at 4:15 p.m. There will be a 20-minute built-in hold at T-15 minutes, followed by a final 10-minute built-in hold at T-4 minutes, leading to liftoff at 6:08 p.m.

Previous status reports are available on the Web at:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/status/2007